Overview

• Speaking at the UN Security Council, Marco Rubio said the Ukraine war will end at a negotiating table and warned the conflict is trending toward deeper escalation with record strikes and airspace incursions.
• Rubio said the president has shown extraordinary patience by not adding heavy sanctions but retains the option to impose new economic costs on Russia to push for peace.
• He outlined potential steps that include authorizing sales of defensive and possibly offensive weaponry so Ukraine can strengthen its self-defense.
• Defending a calibrated sanctions approach, Rubio argued that going heavy now would undercut U.S. ability to mediate and pressed European states to curb purchases of Russian oil and gas.
• Former national security adviser John Bolton criticized Rubio’s stance as “total nonsense,” urging the United States to lead on tougher sanctions rather than wait for Europe.